V Neck Cardigan in Bergere de France Cabourg - 25 - Downloadable PDF

V Neck Cardigan Knitting Pattern in Bergere de France Cabourg – Sizes 3 to 24 Months

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Bergere de France provides instructions for a classic V Neck Cardigan designed for babies and toddlers. The pattern covers four sizes: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months, making it a versatile project that can grow with a young child. Rated as a beginner difficulty level, this is an ideal pattern for knitters who are just starting out or who want a straightforward, satisfying make.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a baby and toddler V-neck cardigan featuring a neat ribbed hem and cuffs, a stocking stitch body, an integrated front pocket, and a classic V-shaped neckline. The cardigan fastens with 4 grey pearl buttons, 13 mm diameter (ref. 627.261), giving it a polished, traditional finish. It is a fully constructed garment with a back, left front, right front, and shaped shoulders, making it a complete introduction to garment knitting.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Bergere de France Cabourg, a DK weight yarn. Two colourways are used in this design:

• Ile (ref. 206.581) – the main colour, used for the body. You will need 2 balls for sizes 3 and 6 months, and 3 balls for sizes 12 and 24 months.
• Nature (ref. 245.641) – the contrast colour, used for the ribbed edgings. 1 ball is required across all four sizes.

In addition to yarn, you will need 3.0 mm and 3.5 mm knitting needles, a stitch holder for the pocket back, and 4 grey pearl buttons at 13 mm diameter (ref. 627.261, sold in packs of 8).

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern introduces and practises several core knitting techniques, making it an excellent learning project for beginners while still producing a polished, wearable result:

• Casting on and casting off – including shaped cast-offs at the shoulders, which vary by size to create a neat, angled shoulder seam.
• Changing needle size – moving from 3.0 mm to 3.5 mm needles after the ribbed border to create the correct tension difference between the edging and the main body.
• Increasing – a single stitch increase is worked on the first row in certain sizes to achieve the correct stitch count before beginning the main body.
• Reversing shaping – the Right Front is worked as a mirror image of the Left Front, a fundamental garment-making skill.
• Working from a stitch holder – the back of the pocket is placed on a stitch holder and returned to later, introducing the concept of holding live stitches.
• Shoulder shaping – cast-offs are worked at the beginning of right-side rows in a stepped sequence that differs for each size, creating a properly shaped armhole and shoulder.

Stitches Used

The pattern uses two key stitch patterns, both of which are fundamental to knitting and well within reach of a beginner:

• 1/1 Rib (1×1 Rib) – worked by alternating knit and purl stitches across the row. This stitch is used for the ribbed borders and cuffs, knitted in Nature on 3.0 mm needles. Rib creates a stretchy, elastic fabric that sits neatly at hems and openings, helping the cardigan keep its shape around the edges.
• Stocking Stitch (St-St) – the classic knitting fabric formed by knitting all right-side rows and purling all wrong-side rows. The main body, fronts, back, and pocket are all worked in stocking stitch using Ile on 3.5 mm needles. Stocking stitch produces a smooth, flat fabric that is ideal